First I heard a rumour that the Art Gallery of Ontario was going to remove that sculpture from the corner of Dundas & McCaul, you know, the one that everyone climbs on and takes their picture with, the one near the AGO entrance.
Then I read about in a newspaper.
You know, that curvy bulky slippery thing by Henry Moore, the one with a title that’s almost as shapeless as the sculpture, “Large Two Forms” although no one calls it that. Oh, what do they call it anyhow?
Then I read about it online.
It’s sat on that corner since 1974. That’s 42 years. Longer than the average Torontonian has been alive.
Can you say synonymous? …. as in synonymous with the corner of Dundas and McCaul.
Apparently it’s going to be moved to Grange Park. That’s the park behind the AGO, the one that is being renovated.
The expression “Rob Peter to Pay Paul” comes to mind.
How about new public art for a renewal of the park?
But walking the site and looking at the plans made me start to think. The sculpture is being moved into its own space in the park and as I looked at the drawings and the artist rendition of the future space, it dawned on me that the redesign of Grange Park was possibly (probably?) done specifically to accommodate the sculpture. The Art Gallery owns Grange Park after all. Toronto does a lousy job of placement of their public art so maybe I shouldn’t complain about this?
Maybe.
As I tried to take photos of the sculpture where it is, I was reminded of how the streetscape in Toronto gets short shrift.
Henry Moore competes with old poles as well as bus shelters that are designed to maximize Astral Media ads. At least there isn’t a ghastly trash bin beside the sculpture. And at least the art is solid enough and strong enough to hold its own.
But this is going to be a problem for any artwork that gets put on that corner.
Oh dear, assuming that something will replace Henry Moore?
Don’t mess it up even more AGO, don’t leave the corner empty.
We have more of a cultural memory than you give us credit for.
as I walk Toronto 
Hi Mary,
As you probably know (better than me), the AGO had a special relationship with Henry Moore. Presumably that relationship has carried forward with the Henry Moore Foundation, in which case it wouldn’t surprise me if they needed a nod from the Foundation to move the sculpture. While it seems jarring to disturb such a long-standing fixture, perhaps AGO intends to create a sculpture park, which may in the final analysis be a better kind of display space for such works. But yes, I agree – one can legitimately be of two minds…….we can only wait and see whether or not it’ll be a net improvement for the sculpture and the street corner!
Cheers,
Mark